Wednesday, 19 March 2014

Time for Round 3 of www.wdnicolson.com's Round by Round Tips and another dose of The Postman's Late Mail for all you Fantasy Footy freaks out there.|-| If you play any form of Fantasy Footy in 2014 -The Postman's Friday Trade Talk is compulsory reading.Remember our Game Previews are now purely the essentials in 2014 - I'll try to write very little fluff and you'll simply (entertainingly) get my read on each game and insightful Late Mail.You can track each week's @NRLTweet Player of the Year Award Votes on Twitter via#NRLTweetPOTY

The 'Special Fried Rice' picks have returned but given it is me v me, every week - I'll just be listing my 'SFR' of the week with the FootyTab Starts as the variation aspect to keep things interesting vs just saying 'this team will win this week - guaranteed'.

ROUND 3 TIPS and LATE MAILAll tips are subject to last minute changes, Game Odds/FootyTab are from Wednesday night and do not update thereafter. Times listed are stadium location LOCAL time.Friday at ANZ 8:00pm

@NRLTweet Player of the Year Award Voters for #NRLWstSou:|N Wilbow @parramatters || W Nicolson @NRLTweet|Track live round votes via #NRLTweetPOTY

LATEST OF LATE MAIL from The Postman:WST - The Tigers should get Fulton back, with Paterson perhaps keeping his bench spot ahead of Seumanufagai or Sue.SOU -Tom Burgess... back sooner than expected? Will have a better idea later this week and the status of McQueen's ankle as well... but otherwise Sutton to five-eighth if Walker can't go due to an ankle. Sounds like McQueen and Walker will miss, so Sutton to 6, Lowe to lock and Turner and maybe Nathaniel Neale onto the bench.

Friday at Suncorp 7:40pm

Broncos $2.55 v $1.53 RoostersFOOTYTAB: BRI +4.5 Teams Analysed on our NRL Injured List@NRLTweet's PREDICTION:Brisbane has won both games on defence so far this year - but the Roosters have more natural points in them than the Bulldogs did and even given the magic of JT - the Cowboys as well. Brisbane's best hope is to bash the Chooks up front but I just don't see them breaking down Sydney's defence unless Barba wants the ball every time Brisbane have it. Roosters by 8 points.

@NRLTweet Player of the Year Award Voters for #NRLBriSyd:|D Chapman @Mr_DC11 || J Gemmell @godofcheeseau|Track live round votes via #NRLTweetPOTY

LATEST OF LATE MAILfrom The Postman:BRI -Hannant has apparently done a hammy at training - so that's two props down for the Broncos with McGuire suspended for a week. At least this means Hala and Wallace might get some game time, and Kennedy would start. Sounds like Corey Oates will get the call on the bench as his replacement.SYD -Hard to see them being anything but 1-17 based on last week.

@NRLTweet Player of the Year Award Voters for #NRLPenCby:|T Schroder @troy_79 || M Duncan @MrPeninsula|Track live round votes via #NRLTweetPOTY

LATEST OF LATE MAILfrom The Postman:PEN - Doubts remain on Soward and Wallace (John is on standby) and Grant (ribs). Kite is out with a calf injury apparently. Yeo could join the bench if Grant misses, while Simmons is a chance to come straight back in for Naiqama. With Josh Mansour evidently suffering from a hamstring strain - if Simmons comes in then Naiqama likely holds his spot or Yeo would come in and probably push Whare to the wing.CBY - Lafai may come in for Brown (head) or Thompson (dropped).

Saturday at Cronulla 7:00pm

Sharks $2.35 v $1.61 DragonsFOOTYTAB: STI +2.5 Teams Analysed on our NRL Injured List@NRLTweet's PREDICTION:Surely I've got to pick Saints based on early season form but that would mean... well picking Saints. If Carney plays I stick with my Cronulla pick, he fails to play - then yes, I may actually pick the unbeaten Dragons here. Maybe. Sharks by 2 points.

@NRLTweet Player of the Year Award Voters for #NRLCroSgi:|M McLucas @Jebadude || J Davies @DragonPunk12|Track live round votes via #NRLTweetPOTY

LATEST OF LATE MAILfrom The Postman:CRO -Carney's fitness will make or break the Sharks this week... if he misses will Manumalealii get another run? Ryan or Grothe may also come into the backline as this team played Monday night so their team may well have been another Tuesday afterthought... Vave may not get his bench spot back from David Fifita as well.STI - Witt is nearing a return but expect Williams to hold his spot this weekend but he may be one bad game from being replaced. de Belin if fit would come in for Harrison on the bench. Harrison and Stockwell will play NSW Cup - and Garvey has been reinstated as well - meaning Witt or de Belin will play the Sharks.

@NRLTweet Player of the Year Award Voters for #NRLManPar:|W Nicolson @NRLTweet || M Vickers @MercurialMattyV|Track live round votes via #NRLTweetPOTY

LATEST OF LATE MAILfrom The Postman:MAN -Taufua may have to wait another week with Blair holding his spot on the wing. Glenn Stewart is still touch and go with a groin injury...PAR - Not convinced we don't see a few changes after last week's 'performance' but what Arthur does could be anything - angry coaches can make big changes.

Sunday at Canberra 6:30pm

Raiders $1.53 v $2.50 TitansFOOTYTAB: GLD +4.5 Teams Analysed on our NRL Injured List@NRLTweet's PREDICTION:No idea here... Canberra are without Fensom and Papalii and that is HUGE... but the Titans played awfully last Sunday and Sezer is in serious doubt with a quad strain... I actually think the Titans can win the battle up front but will not pick them on the road here. Raiders by 6 points.

@NRLTweet Player of the Year Award Voters for #NRLCanGld:|V Parmar @vinnyparmar || B Hoese @GunnerMcDagget|Track live round votes via #NRLTweetPOTY

LATEST OF LATE MAILfrom The Postman:CAN - Despite carving up NSW Cup again - Cornish won't make the squad. McIlwrick may lose his spot to a bigger body but Shillington should return on the bench.GLD -Sezer is in serious doubt with a quad strain (NOW OUT), Harrison or Zillman would move to five-eighth and Mead to fullback with Fai-Fai Loa likely to come onto the wing fi Sezer is out. Minichiello should be fine to take his spot on the bench should Falloon drop out (Carter to hooker)... and James may be preferred to White.

Monday at AAMI 7:05pm

Storm $1.28 v $3.75 KnightsFOOTYTAB: NEW +12.5 Teams Analysed on our NRL Injured List@NRLTweet's PREDICTION:Melbourne have played okay in the first two weeks and have two wins, Newcastle have played fairly poorly and have two losses... Don't get Gidley at #9 when he is clearly Newcastle's best option for the #1 - and the Storm look healthy by comparison. Home team. Storm by 7 points.

LATEST OF LATE MAILfrom The Postman:MEL -The Storm could bring O'Neill back this week after he was named in NSW Cup and Tonumaipea would make way if they do.NEW -If Boyd gets on the plane (unlikely) of course you'd expect him to play, hard to see Gidley at FB despite it making more sense than Minto. Clydsdale returned in NSW Cup last week so if Bennett wants him in the squad, then Gidley may go to FB after all.